dailynewsnblog
After years as a working actor, comedian, and musician (as one half of righteous comedy-metal duo Tenacious D), Jack Black broke out huge at the top of this century, landing roles in big-time blockbusters, breathtaking animation, and even his own starring vehicles.
With a wicked wit, dulcet tones, and a lovable demeanor, Jack Black has found a home in action flicks, family adventures, the occasional drama, and — of course — memorable comedies. So, we’ve looked over Jack Black’s vast film catalog and pulled out 14 of our favorite movies.
From awesome animated sagas to rowdy music-making to the truly odd and offbeat, these are the 14 best Jack Black movies of all time.
14. King Kong (2005)
Jack Black played a film director determined to film real monsters on Skull Island in Peter Jackson’s King Kong remake. Starring alongside Naomi Watts, Adrien Brody, Kyle Chandler, Colin Hanks, and a swirling torrent of beasts trying to rip them all limb from limb, Black represented the decaying moral compass of Hollywood, willing to get the shot no matter whose life was put at risk. A full spectacle, King Kong is an epic retelling of a classic story.
13. The House with a Clock in Its Walls (2018)
Based on the 1973 novel by John Bellairs, and directed by Eli Roth, The House with a Clock in Its Walls is rollicking blend of family-friendly heart and humor starring Jack Black, Cate Blanchett, Hamilton’s Renée Elise Goldsberry, Kyle MacLachlan, and young Owen Vaccaro. This fantastical tale of a boy sent to live in his uncle’s warlock-haunted house is a blast and a half (and Roth’s first-ever non R-rated movie). Black and Blanchett teamed up with Roth again for Borderlands, although you won’t find that disasterous video game adaptation on this list.
12. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)
Jack Black nailed the body-swap game in this Jumanji reboot-quel blockbuster, as a portly professor video game avatar inhabited by popular, vain teen Bethany (Madison Iseman). Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle grossed close to a billion dollars thanks to a great cast, a fun twist, and vulnerable heart. Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, and Karen Gillan rounded out the quartet here in this superb update/upgrade to the Jumanji franchise.
11. The Polka King (2017)
“Weirdly enjoyable” is how The Guardian described 2017’s The Polka King, and that is correct. This isn’t the only time on this list that Jack Black plays a lovable criminal based on a true story, but he shines as Jan Lewan, who lives his dream by forming a polka band with Jason Schwartzman and dating Jenny Slate… all while running a Ponzi scheme. Black’s beaming enthusiasm and joy for music and performance break through while also managing to let you forget that he’s also swindling innocent people. Is there any actor more likeable, relatable, and easier to root for than Jack Black? Spoiler alert as this list goes on: No.
10. Tropic Thunder (2008)
2008’s Tropic Thunder is a wild, raunchy, so-wrong-it-might-actually-be-right action-comedy featuring an all-star cast. The movie tackles topics like fame and the state of big-budget Hollywood, and features Black as a thinly-veiled Chris Farley/Adam Sandler/Eddie Murphy-inspired character who wants to prove he can really act while dealing with a drug addiction. So of course he ends up naked on a water buffalo, which is just one of many physical comedy scenes to which he commits. Hard.
9. The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)
Jack Black stole the show in The Super Mario Bros. Movie as the sinister, serenading (how could one ever forget ‘Peaches’?) villain, Bowser. He was one of our favorite parts of the film, actually, with our 8/10 review stating that, “Jack Black’s Bowser feels like the standout vocal performance as the actor’s trademark bombast fits well with the Koopa King’s outsized sense of self.”
8. Nacho Libre (2006)
Jared and Jerusha Hess’ follow-up to 2004’s sleeper hit Napoleon Dynamite was a fun fable featuring Jack Black as a Catholic friar who secretly moonlights as a luchador to earn money for a struggling orphanage. Nacho Libre is charming entry in Black’s catalog, one that finds himself toning down his more-familiar, manic persona for a mild-mannered heroic turn. Army of the Dead and The Forever Purge’s Ana de la Reguera co-stars, along with late Lucha Libre legend Silver King.
7. Be Kind Rewind (2008)
This isn’t the most acclaimed entry on this list, but Jack Black is absolutely solid in it, and Be Kind Rewind is sold by his scrappy, sweet energy at the center of things. Black stars as a weirdo who accidentally erases all the VHS tapes in an on-its-last-legs rental store that needs to be saved from demolition, and so he and Mos Def decide to remake “sweded” versions of every movie someone wants to rent, becoming a town sensation. Black’s thrown-together “let’s do it anyway, it might even be great!” optimist vibe carries the feel of the movie and makes you believe something so ridiculous might actually be possible.
6. Orange County (2002)
Jake Kasdan’s Orange County, written by School of Rock’s Mike White, is a clever teen comedy that managed to be original, funny, and heartfelt in amidst a landscape of raunchy American Pie clones. Starring Colin Hanks as an aspiring writer with dreams of going to Stanford and Jack Black as his dim-witted stoner brother, Orange County is smart, sweet and filled with comedy luminaries like John Lithgow, Harold Ramis, Catherine O’Hara, Chevy Chase, and Gary Marshall.
5. Bernie (2012)
Richard Linklater’s true crime dark comedy Bernie was a superb side-step for Jack Black, who plays Texas mortician Bernie Tiede, a man convicted of murdering his companion, a wealthy 81-year-old widow named Marge Nugent (Shirley MacLaine). Black received some of the best reviews of his career here in this rich and rewarding love letter to Southern eccentricities. Matthew McConaughey and Gabriel Luna co-star in this cunning, playful film.
4. The Holiday (2006)
Jack Black’s never really been cast in rom-coms, but the one time he was he damn well brought it home. Nancy Meyers’ The Holiday features Black as Miles, a Hollywood film composer who adorably helps Kate Winslet’s lovesick Iris get over her problematic romantic obsession and find love stateside. Meyers created Miles after seeing Black in School of Rock, recognizing his charm and relatability. Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, and Eli Wallach also star in this touching story of two women who find new loves after swapping houses (and countries).
3. Kung Fu Panda (2008)
Kung Fu Panda, and its three sequels, represent some of Jack Black’s best work, and also one of the best-fitting characters for his style of heart and humor. As Po, a lazy panda bear dreaming of martial arts greatness, Black embodies a pure, charismatic underdog spirit in one of the best animated franchises of the past two decades. With wondrous visuals, exciting fight sequences, and Black leading the charge with nothing but his voice talent, Kung Fu Panda is a beautiful, blazing feast for the eyes and spirit.
2. High Fidelity (2000)
After spending the ’90s doing bit roles in notable films like Waterworld, The Cable Guy, and Dead Man Walking — and Tenacious D even appearing in Bio-Dome — Jack Black was washed in a wave of acclaim for playing prickly music snob/record shop worker Barry in Stephen Frears’ High Fidelity. It was a role that showcased both his comedic and musical talents. Witty and wise, High Fidelity would be a big stepping stone toward Black getting headlining roles over the next decade.
1. School of Rock (2003)
Only a handful of movies have been able to capture all that is magical about Jack Black and one of them, School of Rock, did it so well that an entire business chain was created to capitalize on kids wanting to learn to kick ass in a band. School of Rock is a hilarious crowd-pleaser, with Black playing a struggling rocker, Dewey Finn who sees an opportunity to win a Battle of the Bands using reluctant prep school students. This Richard Linklater film is tonally perfect, featuring a top-notch cast, a winning script, and infectious energy.
Upcoming Jack Black Movies
Jack Black is showing no signs of slowing down and continues to work on new movies. Below are all of the biggest upcoming movies featuring the actor that we currently know about.
That’s it for our picks of the best Jack Black movies of all time! Let us know what you think of our ranking, and whether we missed your favorite, in the comments.
Looking for more great films? Check out our other movie star lists:
Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN, a member of the Television Critics Association, and co-host of We Enjoy Wrestling. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.
Note: This list was updated with our latest Jack Black picks on April 1, 2025. It originally ran on August 3, 2022.
